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XX Kobayashi Akihito
Even though so much time has passed, Akihito recognizes Hikaru in an instant, and unfortunately, he can't think fast enough to keep from gasping in shock. Hikaru looks at him. Recognizes him.
Fuck, He thinks for the nth time this morning. How can this be happening?
Akihito knows exactly how- he may not be allowed to talk to Hikaru's family, but everyone knew when his grandfather died. In a town as small as the one Akihito knew, nothing was kept hidden.
Hikaru returning was inevitable. Misaki-san was too kind to leave her mother all alone.
Logically, it all makes perfect sense, but it still has Akihito's mind absolutely reeling. Right now is the worst possible time for all of this to be happening. Even during his hospitalization would've been a better time for Hikaru to show back up, because Akihito wouldn't have to know about it.
Hikaru introduces himself, his speech void of the youthful optimism Akihito remembers. Then he sits down a mere two seats away from Akihito, as if testing his ability to ignore what's happening.
And Akihito does ignore what's happening, if only marginally. He forces himself not to look back at Hikaru, to block Hikaru from his mind. He's not sure he trusts his meds to do it for him. When Hikaru comes toward him during lunch, Akihito walks away, refuses to look Hikaru in the eye.
It's entirely possible that pretending Hikaru doesn't exist is even more obvious than if he just tried not to talk to him, but Akihito's not really sure he cares. Nothing he does can escape notice.
He's cornered in the bathroom toward the end of lunch and only avoids getting punched because the bell rings, sending the bullies scrambling back to class. The student council might ignore the bullying, but tardiness? Absolutely not. If people start showing up late, all hell will break loose.
Akihito slips into his seat just as class starts, successfully avoiding Hikaru. When the last class of the day comes to an end, Akihito packs his things and leaves before Hikaru can even stand.
There's no way I can keep doing this forever.
Akihito returns to the greenhouse. His thoughts almost get the better of him- he can't get Hikaru's face out of his head, can't stop wondering how things will change. Hikaru changed his name. Does that mean he's left the past behind? If so, maybe he won't want to talk to him. Associating with Akihito will only make him more noticeable. No one at this school can resist a gossip topic.
His thoughts spiral down through the many possibilities for the future, and they go uninterrupted for half an hour. Then someone throws open the greenhouse door and marches in uninvited.
"Oi, Kobayashi! I want that money I asked you for."
Sunohara, one of Akihito's classmates, kicks at a pot of sunflowers and topples it over, spilling dirt and flowers onto the floor. One of the boys following him frowns at the dirt on his shoes, then shoots Akihito a glare, as if it's somehow his fault. Sunohara steps into Akihito's face, sneering.
"I don't have any money," Akihito steps back. "My father stopped giving me allowance."
Because you keep stealing it.
"Then steal some. I know your father's loaded, there's no way you got the school to pay for all these." Sunohara says, gesturing to the wide array of flowers around them.
Akihito doesn't respond, because Sunohara is right. He bought most of the flowers himself, with his father's money. But it's still true that Akihito doesn't carry money on him anymore; his father refuses to let him, with how often he "loses" it. And he could never get away with stealing.
Akihito says as much, but Sunohara won't take no for an answer. Several other pots fall to the floor and shatter, and Akihito can barely shove the flowers out of the way of stomping feet.
Looks like I'll have to get more seeds. Again. It'd almost be easier if they just beat me up.
Even though so much time has passed, Akihito recognizes Hikaru in an instant, and unfortunately, he can't think fast enough to keep from gasping in shock. Hikaru looks at him. Recognizes him.
Fuck, He thinks for the nth time this morning. How can this be happening?
Akihito knows exactly how- he may not be allowed to talk to Hikaru's family, but everyone knew when his grandfather died. In a town as small as the one Akihito knew, nothing was kept hidden.
Hikaru returning was inevitable. Misaki-san was too kind to leave her mother all alone.
Logically, it all makes perfect sense, but it still has Akihito's mind absolutely reeling. Right now is the worst possible time for all of this to be happening. Even during his hospitalization would've been a better time for Hikaru to show back up, because Akihito wouldn't have to know about it.
Hikaru introduces himself, his speech void of the youthful optimism Akihito remembers. Then he sits down a mere two seats away from Akihito, as if testing his ability to ignore what's happening.
And Akihito does ignore what's happening, if only marginally. He forces himself not to look back at Hikaru, to block Hikaru from his mind. He's not sure he trusts his meds to do it for him. When Hikaru comes toward him during lunch, Akihito walks away, refuses to look Hikaru in the eye.
It's entirely possible that pretending Hikaru doesn't exist is even more obvious than if he just tried not to talk to him, but Akihito's not really sure he cares. Nothing he does can escape notice.
He's cornered in the bathroom toward the end of lunch and only avoids getting punched because the bell rings, sending the bullies scrambling back to class. The student council might ignore the bullying, but tardiness? Absolutely not. If people start showing up late, all hell will break loose.
Akihito slips into his seat just as class starts, successfully avoiding Hikaru. When the last class of the day comes to an end, Akihito packs his things and leaves before Hikaru can even stand.
There's no way I can keep doing this forever.
Akihito returns to the greenhouse. His thoughts almost get the better of him- he can't get Hikaru's face out of his head, can't stop wondering how things will change. Hikaru changed his name. Does that mean he's left the past behind? If so, maybe he won't want to talk to him. Associating with Akihito will only make him more noticeable. No one at this school can resist a gossip topic.
His thoughts spiral down through the many possibilities for the future, and they go uninterrupted for half an hour. Then someone throws open the greenhouse door and marches in uninvited.
"Oi, Kobayashi! I want that money I asked you for."
Sunohara, one of Akihito's classmates, kicks at a pot of sunflowers and topples it over, spilling dirt and flowers onto the floor. One of the boys following him frowns at the dirt on his shoes, then shoots Akihito a glare, as if it's somehow his fault. Sunohara steps into Akihito's face, sneering.
"I don't have any money," Akihito steps back. "My father stopped giving me allowance."
Because you keep stealing it.
"Then steal some. I know your father's loaded, there's no way you got the school to pay for all these." Sunohara says, gesturing to the wide array of flowers around them.
Akihito doesn't respond, because Sunohara is right. He bought most of the flowers himself, with his father's money. But it's still true that Akihito doesn't carry money on him anymore; his father refuses to let him, with how often he "loses" it. And he could never get away with stealing.
Akihito says as much, but Sunohara won't take no for an answer. Several other pots fall to the floor and shatter, and Akihito can barely shove the flowers out of the way of stomping feet.
Looks like I'll have to get more seeds. Again. It'd almost be easier if they just beat me up.